Grocery Shopping – Ingredients for Oriental Recipes

Oriental market Main Pic

Believe it or not, it’s so easy shopping for ingredients for Oriental recipes.  I’d dare say, it’s even fun.  You get so much culture in such a little place and sometimes its just really nice to get out of my comfort zone only to realize it can be just as comfortable somewhere else.

The folks at this 1st Oriental Market are amazing people.  They’re so eager to help with all your needs.  And I find that this is common just about anywhere I go when it comes to foreign food.  People like to share their experiences and culture.  I find that it isn’t any different here and the owner, Earl and his wife, make it a real pleasant experience.

Most Oriental Cooking, these days, is very simplified because almost all of the guess work has already been cut out for you.  I don’t have to make every individual sauce that is used to combine with other sauces to make one great recipe.  For example: when a recipe calls for Hoisin Sauce, you don’t have to make you’re own Hoisin Sauce from scratch(which would require several other ingredients), you just crack open a bottle.  And what about Plum Sauce… could you imagine having to make that beforehand too?  Both of these ingredients are in my Chinese Barbecue Sauce recipe, which only has 5 or 6 ingredients: Hoisin, Plum Sauce, Ketchup, Sugar, 5 spice powder etc., and that makes it really simple just buying each one of those premade bottles.  But, could you imagine having to make all of those ingredients as well?  You’d be making ingredients for your ingredients.

That being said, I would just like you to understand and realize that you don’t have to learn translations of ingredients you’ve probably never heard of in the first place.  Because, most of the basic ingredients I show you in this video are very versatile to most of the popular Americanized Oriental recipes that you’re likely familiar with anyway.

So get familiar with the few I show you now and I’ll introduce more as we go and you’ll be a pro before you know it!

Seared Salt and Pepper Ahi Tuna

Seared Ahi Tuna

The Best Seared Ahi Tuna

There are, literally, hundreds of different ways to prepare Ahi Tuna but I like mine Seasoned and Seared.  That usually means that dry ingredients are applied, on all sides, to a cut of Raw Ahi Tuna then cooked and “seared” in a dry frying pan.  Ingredients vary but spices generally get the best results, rarely, herbs are ever applied.  But, one of the easiest ways to make this appetizer is to keep it simple and season with Kosher Salt and Black Pepper.

Ahi Tuna Dipping Sauce

The best part about this Ahi tuna recipe is that it comes with a fantastic Wasabi Vinaigrette that has a sweet Soy Sauce and Sesame Oil influence.  Tell me that doesn’t sound superb!  Sushi fans alike come running for this appetizer anywhere it’s served.  I’ve seen similar recipes served at The Outback, Cheese Cake Factory and P.F. Chang’s even.  All of which have their own unique style.  I think that this one is the easiest to do and that anyone the loves tuna is going to like it.

Seared Ahi Tuna Ingredients:

1 Ahi Tuna Steak
1 tbsp Black Pepper
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1/2 tsp Paprika

Wasabi Vinaigrette
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tbsp Honey (optional)
1 tsp Wasabi Paste (you can substitute mustard)
1/2 tsp Sesame Oil
1/2 tsp Lemon Juice

Watch the short video tutorial and I’ll show you exactly how to make this amazing Seared Ahi Tuna and Wasabi Vinaigrette.

Kalua Pork

Kalua Pork

 Deciding About Kulua Pork!

If you’re wanting Kalua Pig, I guess it’s a real simple process of elimination and mathematics.  If you don’t have a Louau to go to, number one, or if you don’t have an underground oven or even want to deal with digging a fire pit or making a temporary cinder block oven, or if you don’t even have an entire Pig to roast, here’ is a Slow Cooker alternative solution for Kalua Pork instead.  And, if you haven’t had this at your Thanksgiving Dinner, YOU ARE MISSING OUT!

Kalua Pork Ingredients:

1 Pork Roast, Shoulder or Rump
1 tbsp Liquid Smoke
Sea Salt (Kosher or Margarita Salt is fine, Hawaiian Sea Salt is the best)

Tenderize your Kalua Pork Roast with a Skewer, Fork or Needling Device.  Then Rub Liquid Smoke over entire Roast and then salt all sides as well.  Put in Crock-pot and Cover.  Roast on the Low setting for 15 hours.  Then fork pull the meat apart on a separate plate and add Crock-pot Juice as needed to moisturize.  Serve with Rice!